2017 by Christ Chapel Bible Church ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Published by Christ Chapel Bible Church

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2 2017 by Christ Chapel Bible Church ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published by Christ Chapel Bible Church Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ISBN Printed in the United States of America

3 Contents IV USING THIS WORKBOOK (READ THIS FIRST) VI OUTLINE FOR EACH SESSION 1 Session One: Martin Luther and Sola Scriptura 17 Session Two: Ulrich Zwingli and Sola Gratia 31 Session Three: John Calvin and Sola Fide 43 Session Four: John Knox and Solus Christus 56 Session Five: William Tyndale and Soli Deo Gloria 71 Session Six: Johann Sebastian Bach: The Fifth Theologian 84 APPENDICES 85 Frequently Asked Questions 86 Home Group Agreement 88 Home Group Calendar 89 Memory Verse Cards 90 Prayer and Praise Report 93 Home Group Roster 94 HOME GROUP LEADERS 95 Hosting an Open House 96 Leading for the First Time 97 Leadership Training Notes iii

4 Using THIS Workbook Tools to help you have a great Home Group experience iv

5 ONE Notice in the TABLE OF CONTENTS there are three sections: (1) SESSIONS; (2) APPENDICES; and (3) HOME GROUP LEADERS. Familiarize yourself with the appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves. TWO If you are leading or co-leading a Home Group, the section HOME GROUP LEADERS will give you tips for effective leadership, encourage you and help you avoid a few common obstacles. THREE Use this workbook as a guide, not a straitjacket. If the group responds to the lesson in an unexpected but sincere way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS pages and the HOME GROUP LEADERS section. FOUR Enjoy your Home Group experience. FIVE Pray before each session for your group members, for your time together, for wisdom and insights. SIX Read the OUTLINE OF EACH SESSION on the next pages so you understand how the sessions will flow. v

6 Outline FOR EACH Session A typical group session for the Roots study will include the following sections. Read through this to get a clear idea of how each group meeting will be structured. WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES. Each session opens with a Memory Verse that emphasizes an important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but we believe memorizing Scripture is a powerful way to grow spiritually. We encourage you to give this important habit a try. The verses for each session are also listed in the appendices. INTRODUCTION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about that week s topic. Make it a practice to read these before the session. You may want to have the group read them aloud. vi

7 SHARE YOUR STORY. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. You build that connection by sharing your story with a few people who really know you and who earn your trust. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking letting you share as much or as little of your story as you choose. HEAR GOD S STORY. In this section you ll read the Bible and listen to teaching in order to hear God s story, and begin to see how His story aligns with yours. When the study directs, you ll watch a short teaching segment on video. You ll then have an opportunity to read a passage of Scripture and discuss both the teaching and the text. The goal isn t to accumulate information but to apply the insights from Scripture to your daily life. CREATE A NEW STORY. In this section you ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living. This section will also have a question or two that will challenge you to live out your faith by serving others, sharing your faith or worshipping God. FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY. If you have time and want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic, we ve provided additional passages and questions. You can use them during the meeting or as homework. Your group may choose to read and prepare before each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. Or group members can use the additional study section during the week after the meeting. If you prefer not to do study homework, this section will provide you with plenty to discuss within the group. These options allow individuals or the whole group to expand their study while still accommodating those who can t do homework or are new to your group. DAILY PRAYER GUIDE. Each week on the daily prayer guide pages we provide Scriptures to reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read a small portion of Scripture each day and pray through it. You ll have a chance to journal your response to what you ve read. Use this section to seek God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Don t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear from God and talk to Him! vii

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9 SESSION ONE Martin Luther AND Sola Scriptura For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 The roots of a tree anchor it deeply in the ground, help the tree grow, and absorb nutrients and water from the soil. The roots also help the tree stand strong in wind and storms, and even to tolerate the stress of drought. Just as the roots of a tree are crucial for its health and development, our spiritual roots are important if we are going to mature as Christians. In this series we re exploring leaders in Christian history, their insights and their impact on our faith. Today we begin with Martin Luther, a Catholic priest who became a key part of the Protestant Reformation. 1

10 LEADER NOTES If your group is new, welcome newcomers. Introduce everyone you may want to have name tags for this first meeting. Open your group with a brief prayer asking God for insight as you study. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion. Before you start this first meeting, get contact information for every participant. Take time to pass around a copy of the HOME GROUP ROSTER on page 93 or a blank sheet of paper. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyone s information and it to the group during the week. Whether your group is new or ongoing, it s always important to review your values. On page 86 is a HOME GROUP AGREEMENT with important values for sustaining healthy, balanced groups. Choose one or two of these values ones you haven t previously focused on or have room to grow in to emphasize during this study. The HOME GROUP CALENDAR on page 88 is a tool for planning who will host and lead each meeting. Consider rotating hosts and leaders and take a few minutes to plan future meetings. 2

11 SHARE YOUR STORY Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking. What brought you here? What do you hope to get out of this group? How many copies of the Bible do you have in your house? Do you have the Bible on your phone?

12 Watch the video Use the NOTES space provided on pages to record your thoughts and questions as well as the things you want to remember or follow up. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions in the HEAR GOD S STORY section and start the conversation. 4

13 HEAR GOD S STORY READ 2 TIMOTHY 3: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. How does Scripture help us learn about God? How does it help us continue in what we have learned? What does it mean to be wise for salvation? What is the role of Scripture in bringing this wisdom? Respond to the idea of Scripture being breathed out by God. How do we train in righteousness? How does Scripture equip us for our spiritual walk? 5

14 CREATE A NEW STORY In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you ve learned from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you ve learned. Why were so many people in the Middle Ages willing to pay indulgences? How do you think it changed the church when people began acquiring their own copies of Scripture? What does it mean for the Bible to be the final authority on faith and practice? 6

15 How does the Word of God do the work of God? Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know who need to know Christ. Commit to praying for God s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them. Would they be open to joining the group? Share your lists with the group so you can all be praying for the people you ve identified. FAMILY FAMILIAR FRIENDS FUN FIRM 7

16 How will you interact with the Bible this week? Can you commit to spending time in the DAILY DEVOTIONS? Tell the group how you plan to follow Jesus this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges. Give each person an opportunity to share prayer requests. If you d like, you can write these on the PRAYER AND PRAISE REPORT on page 90. Close your meeting with prayer. 8

17 FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY Take some time between now and our next meeting to dig into God s Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session s theme on your own. Jot down your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. You may even want to use a Bible website or app to look up commentary on these passages. If you like, share what you learn with the group the next time you meet. After the questions on the next page you ll also find a prayer guide to be used six days of each week during this study. It s another tool available for you to stay focused each day on what you re learning. 9

18 READ ISAIAH 55: How do rain and snow nurture the earth? How does Scripture nurture us and help us grow? What are the purposes for which God sends out His Word? What are some ways God s Word might succeed? 10

19 READ PSALM 19:7-11. Why does following the Lord s precepts give us joy? How does Scripture enlighten us and give us clarity? What are some of the rewards of keeping God s commands? 11

20 Daily Prayer Guide DAY 1 - MONDAY READ ROMANS 15:4. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. REFLECT How does Scripture instruct you? How does it encourage you and bring you hope? DAY 2 - TUESDAY READ HEBREWS 4:12. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. REFLECT Today, ask God to use His living Word to reveal your heart. What is God saying to you through this study? 12

21 DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY READ ROMANS 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. REFLECT What does this verse teach us about the importance of Scripture? DAY 4 - THURSDAY READ JOSHUA 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. REFLECT How can you meditate on God s Word day and night? What are some ways to incorporate Scripture into your daily life? DAY 5 - FRIDAY READ MATTHEW 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. REFLECT Today, spend a few minutes simply praising God for the gift of His Word! 13 13